Each year I welcome numerous potential Bison student-athletes
and their families into my office at the Bucknell Golf Club. We discuss
the many wonderful opportunities that Bucknell offers and the high
expectations that the University maintains for its student-athletes, both
in the classroom and on the golf course.
These conversations often lead to some common questions, so I
thought I would take a moment to clarify some frequently asked questions related to the Bucknell golf program.
• Financial Aid
Bucknell is a Division I, non-scholarship program. Need-based
financial assistance is available to our team members through the
Bucknell Office of Financial Aid. The athletic department is not involved
in this process. Families are required to apply for financial assistance
each year.
• Program Priorities
It is very important that potential candidates understand our
program’s priority list. We stress that each team member understands
that academics and his family come first and second. Directly behind
comes TEAM GOLF! When another item enters the priority list ahead
of TEAM GOLF, the player can no longer provide the competitive challenge to our other players to make them better.
We believe that we are only as good as our weakest player. In this
case it is the 10th player on our roster. We expect this player to be as
competitive as the other nine. It will require commitment, dedication,
good decision-making, great time management and sacrificing many
social opportunities that the general student body has time to do.
The success that our program has achieved in the past 10 years is
directly attributable to the gentlemen who have earned spots on our
10-player roster representing the Bison athletics program in a positive
manner. We continuously have seven or more team members named
to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll each year. We have had at
least one, and in most years two players, in the top 10 at the Patriot
League Championship. Most importantly, all of our recruits have graduated on time.

• Golf Ability
Finally, allow me to focus on the ability of the player that we are
looking for in order to compete at a championship level in Division
I golf. It is very important that our players have quality competitive
experience. It is nice to read in resumes that a player competes on a
successful high school team and has won a junior club championship.
But these are only starting points needed for a player to prepare to
compete at the Division I level.
We are looking for “immediate impact” players. We do not want
young players coming into the program and quickly realizing they are
not competitive with their teammates. We want them to get in the mix
immediately with our returning players. We do not “redshirt” freshmen
or want freshmen to stay in the clubhouse watching the veterans play
all the collegiate events.
I am often asked what the handicap range is for our players and
recruits. I really do not focus on handicaps. Rather, I focus most of my
attention on the competitive tournament experience players have and
the scores that they post in these stroke-play events. I look to see if their
resumes have tournament results from courses 50 or more miles from
their hometown. I look to see how strong the field was at the tournament and where the player finished in that competitive field.
I also expect the potential recruit to play his home course consistently under 75 and to break par on his home course frequently. These
are results that student-athletes must be capable of if they are going
to be competitive on a quality Division I program.
Hopefully, this information gives you some insight into the expectations of our program. I am very proud of all the individuals that have
contributed to making BISON GOLF an important part of their collegiate
life. It is up to our present players and future recruits to continue the
desire for excellence, camaraderie and strong competitive spirit that
are the cornerstones of our program.
GO BISON!

Jim Cotner
Head men’s golf coach

• Coming to Campus
I encourage all prospective student-athletes to visit campus. It is
important that these potential recruits see the academic and athletic
facilities that Bucknell has to offer. Lewisburg and Bucknell provide
a unique setting for learning and playing golf, and we are looking
for individuals interested first and foremost in a great education, followed closely by an outstanding opportunity to compete in Division
I athletics.
• Golf Facilities
Yes, at Bucknell we have our own 18-hole championship golf
course, the Bucknell Golf Club, and brand new in 2011 is a beautiful golf
instructional center, which features both indoor and outdoor practice
areas, a team locker room and meeting/study space. Both facilities
are located within walking distance or a short drive from the center of
campus. Bison golfers have daily access to the course and its facilities.

“... the pursuit of athletics in college
need not interfere with a fellow’s studies, and if you give a boy a well developed
body his brain will get the benefit of it.”
— Christy Mathewson, in his book
Won in the Ninth, written in 1910

The term “student-athlete” signifies
something extraordinary on the campus of Bucknell University.
Being a Bison means that you have
the rare blend of physical skills along
with the drive and passion needed to
succeed at the highest level of collegiate athletics.
Being a Bison also means that you
are a scholar first and foremost. You
believe that values associated with
Division I athletics, such as time management, leadership, teamwork and
grace under pressure, contribute to a
well-rounded college experience.
At Bucknell, our students, faculty
and staff pride themselves as national
leaders in upholding the scholar-athlete ideal that balances a challenging
academic program with the demands
of successful Division I athletics. Being
a Bison means that you have pledged
to be a student-athlete in the purest
sense. In doing so, you will be rewarded for a lifetime.

Will Bachman was one of six Bison named to the Patriot League
Academic Honor Roll in the spring of 2011.

Jim Cotner, for nearly 30 years a teacher, coach and administrator in the
Lewisburg Area School District, is now in his 11th year as head men’s golf coach
at Bucknell. Cotner has rebuilt the Bison golf program into one of the best in the
East, leading the squad to 10 tournament titles in the last five years, including
the 2006, 2007 and 2009 Patriot League championships.
Cotner was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year in three straight
seasons (2005-07) and again in 2009 after guiding the Bison through one of
the finest stretches in program history. The team was runner-up at the 2005
Patriot League Championship before breaking through with a first-ever PL title
in 2006. A year later the Bison defended their crown, capturing the title with a
narrow three-shot victory over Navy. In 2009, the Bison came from behind to
catch Navy and host Army to win a third title in four years. The league crowns
automatically qualified the Bison for the NCAA Regionals, where they played at
the famed Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa in 2006, at Arizona State’s
Karsten Course in 2007, and at The Club at Olde Stone in Kentucky in 2009.
“We have been fortunate to get student-athletes who want to come to
Bucknell for the top-notch education, but who are also very passionate about
golf,” said Cotner. “The sport means a lot to them, and they have every opportunity to get better. The facilities here are first-class, with our own Bucknell Golf
Club and a great teaching pro in Brian Kelly.”
A 2000 inductee into the West Branch Chapter of the Pennsylvania Athletic
Hall of Fame, Cotner in 2001 retired from Lewisburg Area High School, where
he served as the school’s director of athletics for 11 years. Since moving to the
district in September 1972, Cotner coached the Dragons’ boys’ varsity tennis
team for four years (1972-75), the boys’ varsity golf team for five seasons (198286), the boys’ junior varsity basketball squad for two years (1972-74) and the
boys’ varsity basketball team for 17 years (1974-90).
A 1972 graduate of East Stroudsburg University, Cotner is active in the
local golf scene, as well. For 12 years he was president of the North Central
Pennsylvania Golf Association, and he is a 12-year USGA Committee Member
for Regional Golf Associations.
Cotner is only the fifth head coach in the 70-plus-year history of the Bucknell
men’s golf program.

Bucknell has enjoyed tremendous success in the last decade under head
coach Jim Cotner. The Bison have won three Patriot League titles and made
three NCAA Regional appearances, to go along with numerous other team
and individual winners.

121 ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS • PERENNIAL LEADER IN GRADUATION RATES

Instructional Golf Center
The Bucknell campus community, and in particular the
Bison varsity golf programs, now has a wonderful new addition
in the form of a brand new Instructional Golf Center. Ground was
broken on the facility in September 2010, the indoor space was
completed in the spring of 2011, and by the summer of 2011 the
facility was fully functional, including the spacious new outdoor
practice range and putting and short game areas.
The Instructional Golf Center is a multi-purpose, indoor/
outdoor facility that is located adjacent to the existing practice range, just across Smoketown Road from the 11th hole
of the Bucknell Golf Club. The 5,600 square-foot building
houses coaches’ offices and locker rooms for the Bison men’s
and women’s teams, a video-equipped swing diagnostic area,
indoor putting green and hitting bays, and a conference room.
Next to the building is a new 16,000-square-foot practice tee, a 10,000-square-foot, two-tiered putting green and
a 5,700-square-foot short-game practice green with bunkers.
The Bison varsity golf teams have full access to the facility,
while Bucknell Golf Club members will have fee-for-use access
outside the varsity playing seasons. The project was completely
supported by donors.
“This wonderful new learning center is going to significantly enhance our ability to practice and prepare, both as a team
and individually,” said Bucknell men’s golf coach Jim Cotner.
“Today’s young players want to be able to work on their games
all year round, and an indoor facility is essential to be able to
attract top players to the Northeast. I also think the facility is
going to play a big role in enhancing our team unity. It is going
to provide us with a central location where our players can get
together throughout the year.”
“This project has been a long time in the making, and it
is a dream come true,” said Bucknell women’s golf coach Kevin
Jamieson. “On behalf of the Bison golf programs, we thank every
player, parent and friend that has paved the way for this project
to become a reality. This facility will allow us to compete for
some of the best players in the country that are looking for not
only one of the best academic institutions, but one that can also
offer wonderful practice facilities along with one of the nation’s
best collegiate golf courses.”

Brand new in 2011: the Bucknell Instructional Golf Center

Team lounge

Meeting room/study area

Range located just outside lounge

Varsity locker room

Indoor putting green

Short-game area

Rear view of the facility, with a look at the indoor hitting bays and 16,000 square-foot practice range.

The Bucknell varsity golf team has at its disposal one of the finest on-campus golf courses in the Northeast, the Bucknell Golf
Club. The 18-hole course is complemented by a full-service restaurant and well-stocked pro shop, managed by veteran PGA Class
A Professional Brian Kelly. The BGC also features a large practice range with both grass and artificial stalls, two large practice greens
and additional short-game areas, including a practice bunker.
The original nine holes were built in 1930 and designed by renowned course architect Emil Loeffler, who was the greens
superintendent and architect of the famed Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh. Loeffler’s original nine was altered in 1947,
and the course was expanded to 18 holes in 1964. Course architect Edward Ault of Silver Springs, Md., was hired to supervise the
expansion.
The course plays to a par 70 and is measured at 6,400 yards from the back of the championship tees. Despite the relative lack
of length compared to many modern golf courses, the Bucknell layout presents a stern challenge to golfers of all abilities, playing
to a rating of 70.0 and slope of 128 from the blue (back) tees.
The club has hosted numerous U.S. Open local qualifiers and annually hosts the North Central Pennsylvania Golf Association’s
Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championship. It is also in the regular rotation to host the Patriot League Championship, and has
done so in 1994, 2000, 2005 and 2007.
The BGC’s historic clubhouse

Postcard-size greens at No. 18 ...

... and No. 11

The signature par-5 9th requires an approach
over a large pond
A pretty walk home from the 18th
No. 2: a tough 209-yard, par-3

2011-12 Season Preview
BISON SEEK RETURN TO TOP OF PATRIOT
LEAGUE IN 2011-12

Bernard has also shown great promise in his first two seasons at Bucknell.
Last season he finished T-9th at the Bucknell Invitational, and in the spring he
shot 2-over for the tournament and finished T-4th at the Wilmington Invitational.
“I am looking forward to a strong year from Dan,” Cotner predicts. “He
struggled a bit at the end of last season, and he has a lot of demands as an
After winning three Patriot League titles in a four-year span from 2006-09,
engineering major. As he has gotten settled in academically, he has been able
the Bison men’s golf team is coming off back-to-back fifth-place finishes in to put in a lot more time working on his golf game, and he worked really hard
the conference meet. To a man, the members of the team will say their tal- this summer. Two years ago he was club champion at Aronimink, so you know
ent exceeds those results, and this year’s team is intent on refocusing on the
he has plenty of game.”
details needed to climb back to the top of the league when the championship
Szmadzinski has also posted some good scores over the last two years,
returns to the Bucknell Golf Club on
and like Bernard turned in two top-10 finishes in 2010-11. He finished
Apr. 28-29, 2012.
T-9th at the Bucknell Invitational with rounds of 72-75-74, and he was
“Every team in the Patriot League
T-4th at the Wilmington Invitational after shooting 71-73. This year he
has gotten so much stronger,” says
is determined to make the Patriot League Championship lineup for the
head coach Jim Cotner, now in his
first time, and if his summer play is any indication, he may be well on
11th season. “Last year we did not
his way. After being the second low qualifier, Szmadzinski made it to
have a good showing at the league
the quarterfinals of the Michigan Open, where he lost in 23 holes to
championship, and that is serving
the eventual champion.
as a big motivating factor. There is a
“J.J. should be one of our strongest, most consistent players this
sense of excitement about this season
year,” Cotner offers. “He seems to be enjoying competitive golf so much
that I didn’t get last year, and these
more and is not putting as much pressure on himself. In the past every
guys really want to get back to the
shot has been life or death for him, but now his demeanor on the golf
top echelon.”
course seems so much more relaxed.”
From a talent standpoint, Cotner
Another key player figures to be sophomore Schuyler Stitzer, who
figures to have plenty of it at his diswas the low Bison at the Patriot League Championship as a freshman last
posal. Led by the team’s lone senior,
season. He shot 75-76-72 and finished T-13th, and the lefty completed his
Will Bachman, the Bison return five
rookie year with a 75.9 average, second-best on the team behind Hartplayers who have seen considerable
man. Stitzer broke par twice and only had three rounds in the 80s all year.
tournament action and four who
“Schuyler is coming off a really good freshman year,” compliments
played in the 2011 Patriot League
Cotner. “He loves competition and has performed very well under the
Championship. All five of those
gun. He’s not a guy who gets hung up much on the mechanics of the golf
returnees have shot even par or
swing. He is a very natural, feel-type player, and as a result he has very
better in a tournament round, and
few major flaws. He’s our version of Fuzzy
all posted stroke averages of 77 or
Zoeller, just a fun-loving, free-wheeling guy
better last season, led by Jon Hartman
who loves the game of golf.”
with a 74.6.
Thomas Walter and Billy Wright are
“We have the makeup to be very
also promising members of the sophomore
competitive,” Cotner feels. “A lot of our
class. Three newcomers join the squad this
success will depend on our ability to
year in freshmen Patrick Hagerty, Zach
have guys shoot consistent scores,
Pogust and Pete Scialabba. Of the three,
Dan Bernard
rather than some of the peaks and
Scialabba played the best in preseason
valleys that we have seen. I really like
qualifying, and Cotner thinks he could be
the attitude and outlook of the team. They came back to school focused
a potential star.
and with their games in good shape.”
“Peter comes in probably as strong an
Team captain Bachman is the most experienced of the returnees,
overall player that I’ve seen since guys like
having been in the lineup at the Patriot League Championship in each
Abbie Valentine and Charlie Waddell,” says
of his first three seasons. In 2011-12 he compiled an average of 76.2,
Cotner. “From his ball-striking ability to his
highlighted by a 6-under-par 66 in the second round of the Colgate
short game to his putting, I have yet to see
Invitational that tied a school record for score in relation to par. Bacha glaring weakness in his game. His father
man was in contention for a Patriot League title after starting 73-73 last
is the former assistant pro at Fox Chapel,
April, but he struggled in the final round and is determined to get back
so he has some maturity in his game for a
in that spot this year.
guy his age. He has to work hard to adjust
“Will has been a real solid player since he’s been here,” says Cotner.
to the lifestyle of college golf, but he has
“He has worked very hard on his physical conditioning, and as a result Jon Hartman
great potential if he can put it together.”
he has improved his length quite a bit to go with his excellent short
As the Bison have coped with some
game. As he has gotten older, we are also finding out what a strong leader he is.” wet September weather and then looks ahead to the winter, they will surely
Behind Bachman are a trio of talented and experienced juniors in Hartman, benefit from their beautiful new indoor/outdoor practice center. The indoor eleDan Bernard and J.J. Szmadzinski. Coming off shoulder surgery that cost him
ments of the facility include locker room and meeting space, as well as covered
the spring season of his freshman year, Hartman bounced back in a big way hitting bays and putting green. Outside the building are a new practice range
last year. In his first tournament after the injury, Hartman put up two straight
and two large greens.
rounds in the 60s (77-68-69) in a runner-up finish at the Bucknell Invitational.
“The new facility is absolutely wonderful,” says Cotner. “When the weather
He added two more sub-par rounds en route to a 74.4 fall scoring average, the
turns bad we have never had a place to work on our short game, particularly putsecond-best in program history.
ting. From 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., the guys have a place to come in and practice, and
Hartman averaged 76.3 in the spring and finished 16th at the Patriot League they can work it into their busy days throughout the winter. Just as important,
Championship after a final-round 72.
the facility has helped with team bonding and unity. It is a central spot for the
“For the first time in his career, Jon is fully healthy, which has allowed him team to be together, whether it’s studying or practicing or just hanging out.”
to spend a lot more time working on his game,” says Cotner. “He had a great
Bucknell will host the Patriot League Championship for the fifth time this
academic semester last spring, which seems to have lifted a lot of the pressure
spring. The last time Bucknell Golf Club was the site of the league tournament
off his shoulders. He has shown his ability, and his next challenge is that con- was 2007, and the Bison won the title that year.
sistency. Jon has also stepped up into more of a leadership role.”

Spring 2011: Compiled a 76.8 average while competing in all five spring events
... best finish was T-9th at Wilmington Invitational (74-72) ... finished T-16th at
Navy Invitational (79-72) ... started well at Patriot League Championship with
back-to-back 73s, but finished with 80 and placed T-17th ... Fall 2010: Competed
in four tournaments and posted a stroke average of 75.6, third-best on the team
... highlight of season was a 6-under 66 in final round of Colgate Invitational ...
that tied the school record for low round in relation to par ... ended up 4th at
Colgate with 36-hole total of 147 ... one week later finished T-79th at Bucknell
Invitational (72-74-75) ... shot 77-73-78 and placed T-34th at Cornell Invitational
... Spring 2010: Played well, with 7 of 8 rounds at 78 or better ... stroke average
of 76.4 for the spring ... ... posted top-10 finishes in three of his four events ...
placed T-5th at Navy Invitational, T-6th at St. Peter’s Invitational and T-9th at
Monmouth Hawk Invitational ... finished T-30th at Patriot League Championship
(78-76-85) ... Fall 2009: Participated in three fall events, averaging 78.7 in seven
rounds ... best round was 74 at Bucknell Invitational ... shot 76-82 to finish T-23rd
at Lehigh Invitational ... Spring 2009: Had a solid spring, averaging 76.4 in four
events ... shot a 1-under 69 in the first round of the Patriot League Championship ... ended up T-18th after finishing 81-81 ... had another under-par round
(1-under 71) at the Hawk Invitational in March, where he finished T-7th ... shot
a 1-over 72 in the final round of the Caves Valley Intercollegiate (T-15th) ... Fall
2008: Debuted at the Bucknell Invitational and shot 81-84 ... 77-79 at the Scotty
Duncan Memorial ... finished fall with 80.3 average ... Personal: Parents are Jeb
and Sally Bachman ... born Aug. 22, 1989 in Boston, Mass. ... has one sister, Kate
... parents are both members of the Bucknell Class of 1978 ... played three years
of varsity golf at Wellesley High School ... team co-captain as a senior ... team
MVP in junior year ... two-time Bay State League All-Star ... team was Division
2 state runner-up in 2007 ... majoring in management ... member of Patriot
League Academic Honor Roll.
2010-11 (Junior): 76.2 avg.
9/11-12
Colgate Invitational
9/17-18
Bucknell Invitational
9/25-26
Cornell Invitational
10/9-10
Joe Agee Invitational
3/21-22
C&F Bank Intercollegiate
4/2
Wilmington Invitational
4/9-10
Rutherford Intercollegiate
4/16-17
Navy Invitational
4/29-30
Patriot League Championship

Spring 2011: Posted best scoring average yet, a 76.7 in four outings ... shot pair
of 72s at Wilmington Invitational and finished T-4th ... played well at Penn State’s
Rutherford Intercollegiate, shooting 77-74-78 ... finished with 77.3 average for
the full season ... Fall 2010: A mainstay in the Bison lineup, averaging 77.9 in
four events ... best finish was T-9th (75-72-74) at Bucknell Invitational ... opened
season with a 76 at Colgate Invitational ... Spring 2010: Played in two spring
events ... shot 78-72 and finished 13th at Navy Invitational ... also shot 77-82 at
C&F Bank Intercollegiate ... averaged 77.3 in spring and 77.7 for full season ...
Fall 2009: Got off to a solid start, averaging 78.0 in seven rounds ... shot 1-over
71 in second round of Bucknell Invitational ... best finish was 26th at Colgate
Invitational in collegiate debut ... Personal: Born Apr. 3, 1991 in Abington, Pa. ...
son of Charlie and Tina Bernard ... has two siblings, Joseph and Lauren ... brother
played golf at Villanova and sister is a key member of the Bucknell women’s golf
team ... helped lead Malvern Prep to three straight InterAC championships ...
a first team all-conference selection in 2009 and second-team pick in 2008 ...
also made the All-Main Line Team as a senior ... heavily involved in junior golf
in the Philadelphia Area and posted three top-three finishes in the Philadelphia
Junior PGA ... 2010 club champion at Aronimink Golf Club ... majoring in civil
engineering.

CAREER BESTS: JON HARTMAN
Spring 2011: Again led the team in scoring average at 76.3 ... played very well
at Patriot League Championship, shooting 75-78-72 to finish 16th ... was No. 2
Bucknell finished at PLC ... shot 1-over 72 in final round of Navy Invitational ...
full-season average of 74.6 was team best by over a stroke ... Fall 2010: Returned
from injury and enjoyed a terrific fall season, leading the team in stroke average
at 73.1 ... that was the third-best average in program history ... in first competition of season shot 77-68-69 and finished second at Bucknell Invitational ... was
only player in field with two sub-par rounds ... followed that up with 73-79-75
(T-30th) at Cornell Invitational and even-par total of 144 (73-71) in T-7th finish
at Joe Agee Invitational ... Spring 2010: Did not play due to a shoulder injury
... Fall 2009: Got off to a good start, shooting 79-72-74 in collegiate debut at
Bucknell Invitational ... later shot 80-82 at Scotty Duncan Memorial and finished
fall with a 77.4 average ... Personal: Born July 23, 1991 in Summit, N.J. ... parents
are Mitch and Sandy Hartman ... has three siblings, Chris, Shannon and Hilary
... Hilary played field hockey at North Carolina ... her mother played squash at
Bowdoin College and her father played soccer, basketball and golf at Manhattanville College ... four-year letterman at Seton Hall Prep in West Orange, N.J.
... was team’s No. 1 player for last three years ... first team all-state selection as
a junior and senior ... four-time first team all-conference performer ... won the
Iron Hills Conference Championship in 2009 ... won the New Jersey Tournament
of Champions as a junior and was runner-up (losing in a playoff ) as a senior ...
New Jersey Prep School medalist in 2008 and runner-up in 2009 ... in 2008 shot
78-69 at Baltusrol to finish third in the Carter Cup MGA Stroke Play Championship ... played in the New Jersey State Amateur Championship ... helped lead
team to a win in the PGA Junior Ryder Cup ... majoring in economics ... made
Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
2010-11 (Sophomore): 74.6 avg.
9/17-18
Bucknell Invitational
9/25-26
Cornell Invitational
10/9-10
Joe Agee Invitational
4/2
Wilmington Invitational
4/16-17
Navy Invitational
4/29-30
Patriot League Championship

Spring 2011: Averaged 77.9 in three spring events ... best showing was 71-73
in T-4th finish at Wilmington Invitational ... even-par 71 was personal best to
that point ... Fall 2010: Competed in four events, averaging 75.7 ... best finish
was T-9th at Bucknell Invitational (72-75-74) ... posted 1-over 73s at both Cornell
Invitational and Richmond Intercollegiate ... Spring 2010: Played in two spring
events ... shot 74-79 in T-15th-place finish at Monmouth Hawk Invitational ...
shot 1-over 73 to place T-3rd at St. Peter’s Invitational ... averaged 75.3 in spring
and 76.0 for full season ... Fall 2009: Played in two fall events, compiling a 76.4
average ... in collegiate debut shot 75-76-73 at Bucknell Invitational to finish
T-23rd ... Personal: Born Oct. 23, 1991 in Detroit ... son of Joseph and Pamela
Szmadzinski ... has a younger brother, Corey Lee ... father played basketball at
Oakland University ... two-year team captain at Detroit Catholic Central High
School in Novi, Mich. ... earned all-region, all-league, all-area and all-county
honors ... FCWT All-Academic pick ... led team to the state finals as a junior and
senior ... posted 75.2 scoring average ... won more than 20 junior events, including the Oakland County Championship and the MHSAA District Championship
... majoring in accounting ... member of Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
2010-11 (Sophomore): 76.6 avg.
9/11-12
Colgate Invitational
9/17-18
Bucknell Invitational
9/25-26
Cornell Invitational
10/11-12
Richmond Intercollegiate
3/21-22
C&F Bank Intercollegiate
4/2
Wilmington Invitational
4/9-10
Rutherford Intercollegiate

Spring 2011: Played in all five events and compiled 76.9 average ... was team’s
low player at Patriot League Championship, placing T-13th with rounds of
76-76-72 ... 1-over 72 in final round at PLC was best of spring ... placed 12th at
Wilmington Invitational (73-75) ... full-season average of 75.9 was second-best
on team ... Fall 2010: Made a very successful debut, averaging 74.4 in eight
rounds ... began career with T-16th finish at Bucknell Invitational (75-73-76) ...
bettered that a week later with T-11th finish at Cornell Invitational (76-74-71) ...
had two sub-par rounds ... shot 1-under 71 in final round of Cornell Invitational
and Joe Agee Invitational ... Personal: Born May 15, 1992 in New York City ... son
of Mark and Lucy Stitzer ... has two brothers, Parker and Chase ... lettered three
times in golf at Brunswick School in Greenwich, Conn. ... three-time all-league
selection ... elected team captain ... made it all the way to the match-play finals
of the 2010 Met Junior Championship, falling 2&1 in the championships match
... club champion at Eagles Mere Country Club and Round Hill Club ... undeclared
major ... earned spot on Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.

Spring 2011: Did not play in a spring tournament ... Fall 2010: Played in one fall
event, posting rounds of 75-80-77 at the Richmond Intercollegiate ... Personal:
Born Dec. 7, 1991 in Westchester, N.Y. ... son of Andrew and Susan Walter ... has
two brothers, James and Timothy ... both parents attended Bucknell, as did his
grandfather and uncle ... earned three varsity letters in golf at Woodberry Forest
School in Virginia ... elected team captain as a senior ... three-time all-league
honoree ... all-state selection as a senior.
2010-11 (Freshman): 77.3 avg.
10/11-12
Richmond Intercollegiate

75-80-77

Born July 26, 1993 in Chicago, Ill. ... son of Sally and Pat Hagerty ... has one
sister, Katie ... two-year letterman in golf at New Canaan High School ... named
to All-FCIAC East Team.

59th

CAREER BESTS: THOMAS WALTER
Low 18: 75 at Richmond Intercollegiate, 10/11/10
Low 36: 155 (75-80) at Richmond Intercollegiate, 10/11/10
Low 54: 232 (75-80-77) at Richmond Intercollegiate, 10/11-12/10
Best Finish: 59th at Richmond Intercollegiate, 10/11-12/10
Born June 8, 1993 in Philadelphia, Pa. ... parents are Marci and Harris Pogust ...
has one sister, Jessica ... earned two varsity letters in golf and one each in tennis and basketball at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School ... Pennsylvania state
qualifier in golf as a senior ... as a junior and senior named first team all-area
and Times Herald Golfer of the Year ... also a two-time first team all-league pick ...
team captain as a senior ... all-league honorable mention in tennis ... as a junior
was part of a state championship basketball team.

Spring 2011: Did not play in a spring tournament ... Fall 2010: Played in two
fall events, averaging 80.0 ... shot 82-84-77 at Bucknell Invitational and 79-7781 at Richmond Intercollegiate ... Personal: Born Jan. 7, 1992 in Evanston, Ill. ...
parents are Dave and Diane Wright ... has two siblings, Ian and Kristin ... lettered
three times each in golf and hockey at New Trier High School ... all-conference
in golf as a junior and senior ... in hockey played for the 2010 national high
school championship team ... major is undeclared ... member of Patriot League
Academic Honor Roll.
2010-11 (Freshman): 80.0 avg.
9/17-18
Bucknell Invitational
10/11-12
Richmond Intercollegiate

82-84-77
79-77-81

64th
T61st

Born July 18, 1993 in Garden City, N.Y. ... parents are Sally and Dave Scialabba
... has one sister, Katie ... four-year golf letterman at Friends Academy in Locust
Valley, N.Y. ... all-county selection as a junior and senior ... two-year team captain
... had the second-best scoring average in the county his junior and senior years.

Hall of Fame
The Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1979 to honor the very best in the history of Bison Athletics. There are now 223 outstanding student-athletes, administrators, coaches and friends of Bucknell whose contributions to Bucknell Athletics are forever preserved
in the Hall of Fame, including the five men listed below who were associated with the golf program.

HAROLD EVANS

CHICK WAGNER

No man played a larger
role in solidifying Bucknell’s
golf program than Harold Evans, who served the university
for more than 70 years until his
passing in 2002.
Evans came to Bucknell
as caddie master in 1931 and
took over as head professional
Harold Evans
in 1932. After organizing the
school’s club golf team, he became the Bison’s first
intercollegiate golf coach in 1939. He won a schoolrecord 144 dual matches during his nearly quartercentury tenure as head coach and was inducted into
the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986.
Evans led the Bison to five Middle Atlantic Conference championships from 1956-61, and helped
two of those teams to the NCAA Tournament.
The beauty of the Bucknell Golf Club is a tribute
to Evans and his wife, Mary Louise, who planted
countless trees and flowers and shaped the appearance of the course through the years, including the
expansion from 9 to 18 holes in 1964.

Chick Wagner, a 1984
Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame
Inductee, played in the 1975
and 1976 NCAA Golf Championships and was winner of the
1975 ECAC Fall Championship.
Co-captain of the 1975 and
1976 Bucknell teams, Wagner
helped lead the Bison to the
Chick Wagner
1973 Middle Atlantic Conference championship and to second place in the 1974
Eastern Championship.
He was on the Bucknell team that traveled to
Scotland in 1973 for the St. Andrews International
Intercollegiate Championship. A member of teams
that had a combined 35-18 record in dual matches,
Wagner set a school and Bucknell Golf Club competitive course record with a round of 66 in 1975, and
he set Bucknell scoring records with a 73.8 season
average (1975) and 76.4 career average. The recipient of the Edward W. Pangburn Award, he finished in
the top 10 in the conference championship tournament three times and was twice in the top 10 in the
Eastern Championship. He was the 1983 champion
of Oakmont Country Club.

TOMMY THOMPSON

BRAD TUFTS

A Bucknellian in the truest
sense of the award, Tommy
Thompson spent 44 years as
either a player, assistant coach
or head coach at Bucknell. A
three-year starter in baseball
and basketball and captain of
both teams, Thompson served
Tommy Thompson in the U.S. Army, pitched in
the Detroit Tigers system and
coached baseball, basketball, golf and tennis teams
at Bucknell until retiring in 2001.
He amassed more than 1,000 victories as a Bison
player and coach. He was team captain of the basketball team and led the team in scoring as a senior
at 16.3 points per game. Also a star on the baseball
diamond, Thompson was named the outstanding
athlete in the Class of 1960. From 1967-81 he was
head baseball coach, and he helped author one of
the greatest turnarounds in Bucknell history in any
sport, taking the Bison nine from an 0-15 record in
1968 to a 15-4 mark and a Middle Atlantic Conference title in 1969.
He took over as head golf coach in 1981 and
directed the Bison to an impressive 113-27 dualmatch record, to go along with seven tournament
titles. He was named Patriot League Coach of the
Year in 2000.
Thompson was inducted into the Bucknell
Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986.

A 2000 Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame inductee,
Brad Tufts served the Bucknell
athletic department for over
30 years as either coach or
administrator.
He was the men’s golf
coach from 1967-75 and led
Brad Tufts
his teams to Middle Atlantic
Conference championships in
1967 and 1973. His men’s teams posted an impressive 80-38 dual-match record. Tufts became the firstever coach of the Bucknell women’s golf program
in 1998 and retired from coaching, and Bucknell,
following the 2000 spring season.
He served in various administrative roles,
including sports information director, associate
director of public relations, director of information
services, assistant and associate director of athletics and interim director of athletics. Tufts received
the Lester Jordan Award from the College Sports
Information Directors of America in 1998. He is also
the 1989 recipient of ECAC-SIDA’s Irving T. Marsh
Award and the 2001 recipient of ECAC-SIDA’s Bob
Kenworthy Good Person Award.

WWW.BUCKNELLBISON.COM

BOB ETZWEILER

Bob Etzweiler

Bob Etzweiler is still remembered as one of Bucknell’s top golfers, and he occupied the No. 1 or 2 position
on Bison squads that captured
three straight Middle Atlantic
Conference championships.
Etzweiler won the MAC individual title in 1959, tied for
second in 1960 and placed

fifth in 1961.
He qualified for the NCAA Championship during his senior campaign and became one of only
five eastern players to qualify for the match-play
field of 64. The York, Pa., native was also selected
to play in the East-West Match at that tournament.
In an era when virtually all of the competition was
in match-play format, Etzweiler had a career dualmatch record of 23-10-1 and was 18-3-1 against
MAC opponents.
He helped lead Bucknell to a 25-9 record during
his career, including a school-record 10-2 record in
1961. Etzweiler, who in 2003 became just the second
golfer to be inducted into the Bucknell Athletics
Hall of Fame, later won numerous amateur titles in
the York area.

CHARLIE WADDELL
He will not be eligible
for the Bucknell Athletics
Hall of Fame until 2017, but
Charlie Waddell is a good
bet to one day join these
elite ranks.
A 2007 graduate, Waddell is arguably the finest
Charlie Waddell
golfer in Bucknell annals.
He won Patriot League
championships in 2005 and 2006, making him
the only player in league history to win the
league title twice. He also finished sixth in 2004
and third in 2007, giving him four All-PL plaques.
Waddell won four career tournaments and
helped Bucknell to back-to-back Patriot League
team championships in 2006 and 2007, leading
to NCAA Regional berths both years.
Waddell, who graduated as the school record-holder for season (73.4) and career (74.9)
scoring average, was also an outstanding student at Bucknell. He was an ESPN The Magazine
Academic All-District selection and was a nominee for the Byron Nelson Award, presented to the
top golfer in the nation who also demonstrates
good sportsmanship and citizenship.

THE ABC’S OF THE RECRUITING PROCESS
INTERVIEWS
Head coach Jim Cotner strongly encourages all prospective
student-athletes to arrange for an on-campus interview with the
Admissions Office. If it is not possible to interview on campus, alumni
interviews are highly recommended. All interviews should be arranged
through the Admissions Office by calling (570) 577-1101.

JUNIOR YEAR
• Send a letter expressing interest in Bucknell and the men’s golf program. Include both academic and golf resumes. Golf bio should include
tournaments played, size of field, scores shot and place finish.
• After receiving letter and resume, Coach Jim Cotner will send you a
player profile card. Complete and return the card.
• Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. Be sure to include them as
recipients of ACT and SAT test results. When you receive the test scores,
forward them to coach Cotner as well.
SUMMER AFTER JUNIOR YEAR
• The NCAA prohibits a coach from calling you prior to July 1 after you
complete your junior year.
• E-mail coach Cotner (jcotner@bucknell.edu) your summer tournament schedule.
• Make an appointment to visit Bucknell and meet with coach Cotner.
• Update any SAT or ACT scores.
SENIOR YEAR
• Send coach Cotner an unofficial copy of your high school transcript,
test scores and a list of classes you will be taking during your senior
year.
• E-mail the coach your fall tournament schedule and results after you
play these events.
• In October, coach Cotner will inform prospective student-athletes of
their status as a recruit versus a tryout candidate.
• Potential recruits will be invited for an “official visit” to meet team
members and experience campus life.
• Recruit candidates and tryout candidates should submit applications.
• Candidates applying for financial assistance should do so at this time
through the Bucknell financial aid office. The department of athletics
is not involved in this process.
• In November, the top candidates will be offered an admissions spot
and a spot on the 10-player men’s golf roster.
CONTACTS
As per NCAA by-law 13.02.3, a contact is any face-to-face encounter
between a prospect or the prospect’s parent or legal guardian and an
institutional staff member or athletics representative during which any
dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting. Any such faceto-face encounter that is prearranged or takes place on the grounds
of the prospect’s high school, or at the site of organized competition
or practice involving the prospect’s high school, preparatory school,
two-year college, or all-star team is considered a contact, regardless
of the conversation that occurs. We are limited to three off-campus
contact days per prospective student-athlete.

16

TELEPHONE CALLS
As per NCAA by-law 13.1.3.1, institutional staff members may not
telephone a prospect (or the prospect’s relatives or legal guardians) prior to July 1 following the prospect’s completion of the
junior year in high school. After July 1, institutional staff members
may telephone a prospect once per week (measured Sunday through
Saturday). The once-per-week limit applies to the entire institution.
VISITS, Official
According to NCAA by-law 13.7.1.2, a prospect may not make more than
five expense-paid visits to NCAA member institutions, regardless of the
number of sports in which the prospect is involved. An institution may
not provide an expense-paid visit to a prospect who has not presented
the institution with a high school (or college) academic transcript and a
score from a PSAT, an SAT, a PACTPlus, or an ACT test taken on a national
testing date under national testing conditions. Prospects must also be
registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse in order to make an official
visit. The official visit may not exceed 48 hours.
VISITS, Unofficial
According to NCAA by-law 13.8.1, a prospect may visit an institution’s
campus at the prospect’s own expense an unlimited number of times
and may make an unofficial visit before the prospect’s senior year in
high school.
If a prospective student-athlete and/or parent has any questions,
please feel free to call head coach Jim Cotner at (570) 577-3075.
Best times to reach Coach Cotner are between the hours of 10
a.m. and 2 p.m. Also, please feel free to forward any correspondence you feel will be helpful in his assessment of a prospective
student-athlete.

BISON GOLF: LEADERS ON THE COURSE
AND IN THE CLASSROOM
Bucknell athletics teams are well-known for their prowess both on
the playing fields and in the classroom. The Bison men’s golf team
is no exception. In fact, Jim Cotner’s crew had an stellar combined
grade-point average of 3.21 in the spring 2011 semester. The
following Bison men’s golfers achieved a 3.2 GPA last spring and
earned a spot on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
NAME
Will Bachman
Jon Hartman
Schuyler Stitzer
J.J. Szmadzinski
Andrew Wallisch
Billy Wright